Raphael Saadiq bookends the decade with his follow-up to 2011's Stone Rollin'. I wasn't really into his last album compared to his 2000's albums, but I find this one to be very rich indeed. I have been looking forward to it since he popped up on Solange's 2016 Seat At The Table.

The album features guitarist Rob Bacon, and overall refreshing sound. While the album's content deals with his brother Jimmy Lee whom he lost presumably from addiction problems, the album is dynamic and even uplifting.

I liked the retro 60s/70s sound of his previous two albums, but that direction may have run its course (especially after such a long gap before this release) and a more contemporary style similar to the soundtrack he curates for the Insecure TV show is welcome.

"4 all of us, life is death without adventure,& adventure only comes 2 those who are willing 2 b daring & take chances." 1985
No 1 thought The Revolution would start n Minneapolis but . "U r a slave 2 whatever U chose 2 believe".

I liked the retro 60s/70s sound of his previous two albums, but that direction may have run its course (especially after such a long gap before this release) and a more contemporary style similar to the soundtrack he curates for the Insecure TV show is welcome.

Ok, So Im a little pissed that I had no idea of a BK show last night! JUst moved to the city and Im learning that its an " if you blink you'll miss it" kind of place.

I liked the retro 60s/70s sound of his previous two albums, but that direction may have run its course (especially after such a long gap before this release) and a more contemporary style similar to the soundtrack he curates for the Insecure TV show is welcome.

I liked the retro 60s/70s sound of his previous two albums, but that direction may have run its course (especially after such a long gap before this release) and a more contemporary style similar to the soundtrack he curates for the Insecure TV show is welcome.

Ok, So Im a little pissed that I had no idea of a BK show last night! JUst moved to the city and Im learning that its an " if you blink you'll miss it" kind of place.

That said, I'm really feelig this album. "Rearview" is my joint!

Welcome to NYC! Brooklyn is by far the best borough for live music--so many venues in Williamsburg alone:

Music Hall of Williamsburg

Brooklyn Bowl

Rough Trade NYC

Brooklyn Steel

Baby's All Right

Knitting Factory

Union Pool

National Sawdust

And many more if you travel north a few blocks to Greenpoint or east to nearby Bushwick.

Ok, So Im a little pissed that I had no idea of a BK show last night! JUst moved to the city and Im learning that its an " if you blink you'll miss it" kind of place.

That said, I'm really feelig this album. "Rearview" is my joint!

Welcome to NYC! Brooklyn is by far the best borough for live music--so many venues in Williamsburg alone:

Music Hall of Williamsburg

Brooklyn Bowl

Rough Trade NYC

Brooklyn Steel

Baby's All Right

Knitting Factory

Union Pool

National Sawdust

And many more if you travel north a few blocks to Greenpoint or east to nearby Bushwick.

Thanks! I followed your instagram link. Saw the Van Hunt pic. I was at that show. Fucking amazing night! That was the night I knew I had found my tribe. Also caught a criminally under-attended Murray Lightburn (The Dears) gig @ Rockwood. Bloc Party @ Summerstage next Friday (!!) and Cinematic Orchestra in Nov. Bring it on!

Raphael Saadiq opens up about grief, loss and his most personal project yet

Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and record producer, Raphael Saadiq says his new music may be his most honest ever.

"I went down a rabbit hole and said,'It's time for me to talk about it,'" Saadiq told CBS News' Anthony Mason. "I'm very surprised at what came out. Yeah."

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As a solo artist and before that as a member of the R&B group Tony! Toni! Toné! – who scored a string of hits in the late 80s and 90s – Saadiq became known as a musician who could swing easily between styles.

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But there was one subject he stayed away from in his music: His family and a series of tragedies he's endured. The 53-year-old singer has named his new record "Jimmy Lee" after his older brother who died of a heroin overdose.

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"He was an addict, you know. People look down on addicts. And he was sort of the black sheep of the family. He was looked at like nothing to a lot of people," Saadiq said. "Jimmy was everything to me. I would always say on my shows how he would drop off a puppy, leave it in the backyard for me. You know, just always doing something real nice."

Jimmy Lee was just one of four siblings Saadiq has lost. His brother, Desmond, also an addict, died by suicide.

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"My other brother, lvy, was murdered by my sister's boyfriend when I was 7, and then my sister was in a car accident … and I always just kept progressing and moving forward, you know," he said. "I have them tattooed on my arm, all four of them. Been on my arm for over 20 years."

He admits grief made him "a little hard."

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"It made me not respond to simple things that people respond to and be like, 'what's your deal?' you know like, 'really, are you complaining about that? Steinway is therapy for me, big huge black Steinway piano is, I felt like that's all the therapy I need," he said.

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The album, he says, is for anyone who's had a Jimmy Lee in their life. "I feel like I've freed the energy, the spirit. I guess that's one of the biggest things, I'm watching my mother through this process."

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The album artwork for "Jimmy Lee" includes his mother, and late brothers and sister.

"I've always said somehow I need to connect the dots. And I feel like I'm finally connecting the dots for myself, and also for people who have been listening to me for all these years."

I liked the retro 60s/70s sound of his previous two albums, but that direction may have run its course (especially after such a long gap before this release) and a more contemporary style similar to the soundtrack he curates for the Insecure TV show is welcome.

Ok, So Im a little pissed that I had no idea of a BK show last night! JUst moved to the city and Im learning that its an " if you blink you'll miss it" kind of place.

That said, I'm really feelig this album. "Rearview" is my joint!

He's going on tour again early next year including another New York show in February at Terminal 5.

I've bowed down and listened to it and it's made me finally forgive Raphael....As of now I hold no more grudges against him. Of course with baby steps I will take.

"4 all of us, life is death without adventure,& adventure only comes 2 those who are willing 2 b daring & take chances." 1985
No 1 thought The Revolution would start n Minneapolis but . "U r a slave 2 whatever U chose 2 believe".

Here's a review from Paste on the album that I thought was good with some reservations:

Raphael Saadiq: Jimmy Lee Review

By Saby Reyes-Kulkarni | August 23, 2019 | 12:15pm

Since his music career got off the ground 35 years ago, multi-instrumentalist singer/songwriter Raphael Saadiqhas mostly steered clear of writing the tragedies that punctuated his childhood into his songs.

Download all the shit hop that you can for your kids, neices, nephews, and their friends also. That will prevent them from going out and buying it and will prevent some shit hop sales. Every little bit helps - Andy
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemus

Raphael(whom I've recently forgiven) I must admit has found the fountain of youth just like Pharrell.

"4 all of us, life is death without adventure,& adventure only comes 2 those who are willing 2 b daring & take chances." 1985
No 1 thought The Revolution would start n Minneapolis but . "U r a slave 2 whatever U chose 2 believe".